Mobile phone jammers and CCTVs would be installed in all the jails in Maharashtra, the Legislative Assembly was informed today.
Minister of State for Home Satej Patil made this announcement after the Opposition raised the issue of irregularities and mismanagement in most of the jails.
He said use of GPS technology may be considered to curb misuse of the parole system by convicts.
Patil admitted that the number of cases of convicts jumping parole has increased in the last few years and it was a matter of concern for the Home Department.
The Minister maintained there was a nexus between jail officials and prisoners, and this bred corruption. "The jail manual of 1979 has become outdated and it should be amended."
"CCTVs have been installed in some of the jails like Arthur Road in Mumbai and the remaining jails also will be equipped with the same technology in the near future. Mobile jammers will be installed in all the jails," Patil said.
Bala Nandgaonkar (MNS) raised the issue of violation of prison rules by a jail officer in Nagpur.
He said the officer charged Rs 100 a minute to allow inmates to make calls from his mobile phone and took Rs 2,000 for facilitating the release of a convict on parole.
The Minister informed the House that the officer in question has been suspended.
